1918-S 10C, FB MS65+ FB Certification #47065132, PCGS #4921

CoinFacts Details

Owner's Comments

NFC Coins, N

Expert Comments

Charles Morgan

United States Mint records reveal that San Francisco utilized 73 obverse and 66 reverse dies to strike 19,300,000 1918-S Mercury Dimes (#4920, #4921). While it is a testament to the skill of the coiners that the average die survived more than 277,000 impressions, such high-volume production required compromises. Consequently, the 1918-S is typically characterized by a soft strike, making Full Bands (FB) examples—especially in Gem grades—exceptionally difficult to locate. According to PCGS population data, Mint State coins without Full Bands outnumber those that do by a 4:1 ratio. Despite this discrepency, the grade distribution follows a remarkably similar pattern for both categories. The population peaks at MS64, before dropping by about 50% for MS65. This "Gem" cliff continues in the higher grades. Superb Gems are truly outliers and MADHATTER's PCGS MS67+FB example is the single finest known in either category.

Vintage Market Snippet

April 1976: New York dealer Joel D. Coen offered choice BU 1918-S Mercury Dimes for $150 in The Numismatist.

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PCGS #

4921

Designer

Adolph Alexander Weinman

Edge

Reeded

Diameter

17.90 millimeters

Weight

2.50 grams

Mintage

19300000

Metal

90% Silver, 10% Copper

Pop Higher

Pop Lower

153

Region

The United States of America

Price Guide

PCGS Population

Auctions - PCGS Graded

Auctions - NGC Graded

Rarity and Survival Estimates Learn More

Grades	Survival Estimate The Survival Estimate represents an average of one or more experts opinions as to how many examples survive of a particular coin in three categories: 1) all grades, 2) 60 or better, and 3) 65 or better. These estimates are based on a variety of sources, including population reports, auction appearances, and personal knowledge. Survival estimates include coins that are raw, certified by PCGS, and certified by other grading services.	Numismatic Rarity Numismatic Rarity converts the Survival Estimate for a particular coin into a number from 1 to 10 (with decimal increments) based on the PCGS Rarity Scale. The higher the number, the more rare the coin.	Relative Rarity by Type Relative Rarity By Type ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Type. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.	Relative Rarity by Series Relative Rarity By Series ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Series. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.
65 or Better	300	R-6.4	6 / 80 TIE	6 / 80 TIE
All Grades	300	R-6.4	6 / 80 TIE	6 / 80 TIE
60 or Better	50	R-8.5	7 / 80 TIE	7 / 80 TIE

Survival Estimate The Survival Estimate represents an average of one or more experts opinions as to how many examples survive of a particular coin in three categories: 1) all grades, 2) 60 or better, and 3) 65 or better. These estimates are based on a variety of sources, including population reports, auction appearances, and personal knowledge. Survival estimates include coins that are raw, certified by PCGS, and certified by other grading services.
65 or Better	300
All Grades	300
60 or Better	50

Numismatic Rarity Numismatic Rarity converts the Survival Estimate for a particular coin into a number from 1 to 10 (with decimal increments) based on the PCGS Rarity Scale. The higher the number, the more rare the coin.
65 or Better	R-6.4
All Grades	R-6.4
60 or Better	R-8.5

Relative Rarity by Type Relative Rarity By Type ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Type. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.
65 or Better	6 / 80 TIE
All Grades	6 / 80 TIE
60 or Better	7 / 80 TIE

Relative Rarity by Series Relative Rarity By Series ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Series. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.
65 or Better	6 / 80 TIE
All Grades	6 / 80 TIE
60 or Better	7 / 80 TIE

Condition Census Learn More

Pos	Grade	Pedigree and History
1	PCGS MS67+FB	As PCGS MS67FB #07962490. "The Harold and Jan P. Kritzman Collection"; Heritage Auctions, February 21, 2002, Lot 5559 – $44,850; "The Anne Kate Collection," Bowers and Merena, November 2006, Lot 868 - $100,050; "The Joseph C. Thomas Collection, Part Two," Heritage Auctions, April 2009, Lot 2278 – $63,250. Brilliant. As PCGS MS67FB CAC #31814085. “The Charles McNutt Collection,” Heritage Auctions, January 10, 2019, Lot 4408 – $144,000; MADHATTER's "MERC MADNESS Collection" (PCGS Set Registry). The coin remains mostly brilliant, a faint golden-brown tone clings to the upper edge of the obverse and sweeps across the reverse.
2	PCGS MS67FB	As PCGS MS67FB #21465064: “The William Dominick Collection,” Heritage Auctions, April 2001, Lot 6216; “The Joshua II Collection of Mercury Dimes, #1 All-Time Finest PCGS Registry Set,” Heritage Auctions, August 12, 2010, Lot 4496 – $97,750. As PCGS MS67FB #37912930. Predomintantly brilliant. Golden faint golden toning at the left tip of the bust truncation. Thin brown mark running diagonally from the bust truncation. Faint blue and magenta "haze" at IBER. Small tick at the center of Liberty's cheek. The bottom of NE of ONE are flatly struck.
3	PCGS MS66+FB	Heritage Auctions, January 9, 2020, Lot 4151 - $28,800. The coin is brilliant. A thin, curved mark runs from the L to the bottom serif of the I and toward Liberty’s forehead. A small gouge is noted above the D in GOD, with a small tick in the fasces one-third of the way down.
3	PCGS MS66+FB	As PCGS MS66FB #25613775. Heritage Auctions, April 28, 2016, Lot 4591 - $37,600. As PCGS MS66+FB #25613775. Splashes of russet, gold, and amber toning on both sides.

#1 PCGS MS67+FB

As PCGS MS67FB #07962490. "The Harold and Jan P. Kritzman Collection"; Heritage Auctions, February 21, 2002, Lot 5559 – $44,850; "The Anne Kate Collection," Bowers and Merena, November 2006, Lot 868 - $100,050; "The Joseph C. Thomas Collection, Part Two," Heritage Auctions, April 2009, Lot 2278 – $63,250. Brilliant. As PCGS MS67FB CAC #31814085. “The Charles McNutt Collection,” Heritage Auctions, January 10, 2019, Lot 4408 – $144,000; MADHATTER's "MERC MADNESS Collection" (PCGS Set Registry). The coin remains mostly brilliant, a faint golden-brown tone clings to the upper edge of the obverse and sweeps across the reverse.

#2 PCGS MS67FB

As PCGS MS67FB #21465064: “The William Dominick Collection,” Heritage Auctions, April 2001, Lot 6216; “The Joshua II Collection of Mercury Dimes, #1 All-Time Finest PCGS Registry Set,” Heritage Auctions, August 12, 2010, Lot 4496 – $97,750. As PCGS MS67FB #37912930. Predomintantly brilliant. Golden faint golden toning at the left tip of the bust truncation. Thin brown mark running diagonally from the bust truncation. Faint blue and magenta "haze" at IBER. Small tick at the center of Liberty's cheek. The bottom of NE of ONE are flatly struck.

#3 PCGS MS66+FB

Heritage Auctions, January 9, 2020, Lot 4151 - $28,800. The coin is brilliant. A thin, curved mark runs from the L to the bottom serif of the I and toward Liberty’s forehead. A small gouge is noted above the D in GOD, with a small tick in the fasces one-third of the way down.

#3 PCGS MS66+FB

As PCGS MS66FB #25613775. Heritage Auctions, April 28, 2016, Lot 4591 - $37,600. As PCGS MS66+FB #25613775. Splashes of russet, gold, and amber toning on both sides.